Tehran puts troops on alert and threatens neighbors: "Any aid to the US is an act of war"

Iran is taking a hard line against the US, rejecting demands for direct dialogue on its nuclear programme while warning Gulf states that any support for a possible military operation against the Islamic Republic will have grave consequences.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran was not ready for direct talks with Washington, despite pressure from US President Donald Trump. Instead, Iran insisted on continuing indirect dialogue brokered by Oman, the traditional conduit between the two adversaries.




- noted the source.

According to him, despite possible difficulties, such negotiations could begin in the near future if the United States demonstrates a willingness to move in this direction.

Meanwhile, Iran has stepped up its diplomatic efforts in the region. Tehran has sent formal notices to Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Turkey and Bahrain warning that allowing their airspace or territory to be used by the US military would be considered an act of hostility.


- the official emphasized, adding that the country's armed forces have been put on high alert by order of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The situation is unfolding against the backdrop of growing tensions in the Middle East, with ongoing fighting in the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon, airstrikes in Yemen, instability in Syria, and regular skirmishes between Israel and pro-Iranian forces. All of this is fueling fears in the region of a possible escalation into a major conflict that could threaten not only security but also global oil supplies.

Most countries in the region have not yet responded to Tehran's statement. The exception was Kuwait, which, according to Iranian media, allegedly assured Tehran of its neutral position. Turkey said it had not received any official notifications, but did not rule out that such messages could have been sent through diplomatic channels.

In the international context, Russia has come out on Iran’s side. Moscow has called Washington’s threats unacceptable and called for restraint. However, Tehran is not confident in the stability of Russian support – much, according to another Iranian source, will depend on the development of personal relations between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

President Trump, for his part, has expressed his preference for the diplomatic path and even said that he had sent a personal letter to Ayatollah Khamenei proposing negotiations. The first round of possible dialogue is expected to take place in Muscat, with the participation of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi or his deputy Majid Takht-e Ravanchi.

However, time to reach an agreement is limited. According to an Iranian source, there is a fear that Israel, without waiting for diplomatic progress, could strike on its own. Such a scenario, Tehran warns, could lead to the automatic restoration of all international sanctions against Iran.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has previously recorded an acceleration of Iran's nuclear program, with uranium enrichment reaching 60%, close to weapons-grade levels. Although Iran says it is not seeking to create nuclear weapons, Western countries have questioned such claims, noting that there is no civilian need for such enrichment levels.

Tehran is ready to discuss its nuclear program, but only in exchange for an end to pressure and threats. At the same time, Iran has made it clear that its missile program will remain outside the negotiating process.

Against the backdrop of these statements, IRGC commander Amirali Hajizadeh recalled that in the event of a conflict, American military bases in the region would be considered legitimate targets. In 2020, after the assassination of General Qasem Soleimani, Iran already struck US targets in Iraq, demonstrating its readiness to retaliate.